Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I found this list on this Blog (imagine that?!) and thought you might enjoy it. John, Kirk and I

went through the list to see that we could and could not do. Can you do all of them?

I've noted the ones I can do...

1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital. I think I can build a fire. At my house, I just flip a switch and the fire appears in the fireplace. Check!

2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need. Uh hello? I have a blog! Check!

4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help. Ok, I've had a class before Kate was born. I hope I never have to use it! I think my certification is only good for 2 yrs. Check!

5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge. Yes, but I wouldn't want to drive one all the time. Check!

6. Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it. They call me Paula Deen at my house! Check!

7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath. Please! Have you met me? Check!

8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win. The only person I've been in a fistfight with....Sissy and it's been a long time! So I guess I do avoid them now! Check!

9. Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you. Yep, I do this too in my job...no one wants bad news. Check!

10. Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.

I don't change tires, this is the reason I got married!

11. Handle a Job Interview – I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job. Can do! Check!

12. Manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time. I don't do this very often...hence this blog....

13. Speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago. Yep, i can do this. Check!

14. Remember Names – Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”? Dale Carnegie people! Check!

15. Relocate Living Spaces – Relocating is always a little tougher than you originally imagined. I don't know if I do this very well. I don't do it often.

16. Travel Light – Bring only the necessities. It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do. Nope, I travel with two kids and I pack everything....

17. Handle the Police – Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba. I guess I do it well since I've never been in the pokey...check!

18. Give Driving Directions – Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time. I give directions, they won't get you to where you are going!

19. Perform Basic First Aid – You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound. Can do, I have a little girl who likes her bandaids on boo boos.

20. Swim – 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea. Check!

21. Parallel Park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. How could this be? I think I can do this on a road all by myself. I get stressed out and usually give up when I am blocking other cars from passing.

22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits – I don't drink, so Check!

23. Select Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise. I don't do a good job of this!

24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw – Carpenters are not the only ones who need tools. Everyone should have a basic understanding of basic hand tools. Please they call me Handy Manny at my house!

25. Make a Simple Budget – Being in debt is not fun. A simple budget is the key. Nope, a budget is like a diet...I'm not good at either one.

26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English. It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%. Please I can barely speak English!

27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly – Improper push-ups and sit-ups do nothing but hurt your body and waste your time. I think it would be easier to learn another language!

28. Give a Compliment – It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it’s free. Once again, Dale Carnegie people!

29. Negotiate – The better deal is only a question or two away. Check!

30. Listen Carefully to Others – The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss. I don't do a good job of this.

31. Recite Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all. I love to try to name the states capitals! It's hard.

32. Paint a Room – The true cost of painting is 90% labor. For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do it yourself. Once again, this is one of the reasons I got married.

33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech – At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet. “Duhhh…” will not cut it. Once again, thanks to Dale Carnegie.

34. Smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera suck! Check!

35. Flirt Without Looking Ridiculous – There is a fine line between successful flirting and utter disaster. If you try too hard, you lose. If you don’t try hard enough, you lose. Please, I got married didn't I? Check!

36. Take Useful Notes – Because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes is a recipe for failure. I can do this because of Ms. Gleason's Skills Lab - 9th grade.

37. Be a Respectful House Guest – Otherwise you will be staying in a lot of hotels over the years. I think I am. Check!

38. Make a Good First Impression – Aristotle once said, “well begun is half done.” Hmmm, I would hope!

39. Navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere? Map, yes. Compass no.

40. Sew a Button onto Clothing – It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt. Please! They call me Martha Stewart at my house!

41. Hook Up a Basic Home Theater System – This isn’t rocket science. Paying someone to do this shows sheer laziness. Nah, I have a husband that can do it.

42. Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime. Check!

43. Protect Personal Identity Information – Personal identity theft is not fun unless you are the thief. Don’t be careless. I try to have very obscure passwords...

44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices – You don’t have to be a computer science major to understand the fundamentals of creating complex passwords and using firewalls. Doing so will surely save you a lot of grief someday. Once again, Husband...

45. Detect a Lie – People will lie to you. It’s a sad fact of life. I think I can tell.

46. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises – There is no excuse for making promises you do not intend to keep. There is also no reason why you should have to make a decision on the spot about someone you hardly know. Another reason I got married...no more dates with people I don't like! Check!

47. Remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one. I need to do better on this. My kids have stains on everything...of mine!

48. Keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, organized lifestyle. Please, this house is spotless...(can you tell I was lying?)

49. Hold a Baby – Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do. Check!

Thank you to Mrs. Gleason and who taught typing! My only fist fight - Dlynn Darter and Tanya Thompson! Yikes what was I thinking! Sewing/stains, nopes - that is why I now have a mall 12 minutes away, can you say awesome? some things I can do, but just don't want to - does that count?